What’s new
- FF TURBO SQUARED™ trampoline pod
- Greater traction with ASICSGRIP™ rubber in the forefoot
- New engineered woven upper
ON THE RUN
Amanda: The run in the shoe was very comfortable. The turbo^2 cushioning mixed with the blast max on the bottom kept the shoe feeling light, without losing the preferable squish. I felt that it was a great shoe for those with a mid to high arch. This is because the majority of the support in the shoe felt to be towards the outside of the foot. I felt supported on my longer runs as well as unrestricted in my tempos. The shoe is snug in the heel through the arch and opens up in the toe box to accommodate wiggle room and comfortability. As a runner I really enjoyed the feeling of a plush cushioned shoe without sacrificing the weight.
Jacob: I have learned a valuable lesson in the past few years about Asics shoes. If the shoe has the word “Blast” in the name, it’s going to be a blast running in them. I am happy to report that the new Novablast 6 is no different. It is just a fun shoe! This might be a weird comparison, but I’d compare it to the feeling of ice skating. Imagine, it’s the middle of January in Michigan, you get the ice all cleaned up, put on a fresh pair of skates, and just glide to your hearts content. I put on the Novablast and feel like I can just glide, smooth and unbothered. It’s a healthy mix of cushion and responsiveness that fits exactly what I need in a shoe.
THE FIT
Amanda: The shoe fit true to size. There was a great amount of room in the toe box, which made the shoe very comfortable to run and walk in. Then moving into the arch and midfoot, the mesh upper felt like a hug. Now bringing it back to the heel. Reviewing this part of the shoe is hard because I couldn't feel anything in the heel, however, that is how I prefer it to feel. The tighter midfoot allows the shoe to persuade your foot to really push off with the ball. I found that it made me look, feel, and run faster.
Jacob: I find that this shoe is a good snug fit while having a spacious toe-box. I like my shoes to feel like they are in lock step with my foot while having some space, and the Novablast does that perfectly. The tongue is a soft, thin material that works to keep my foot in the shoe, but not sacrificing any weight. The upper is a new woven material that is able to hug my foot and not feel too loose or baggy. It’s like when you finally find that perfect fitting pair of pants after you’ve tried 5 different stores. A good fit is a good fit!
THE FEEL
Amanda: The shoe felt like running on an energized cloud. It is soft when you land. The heel being supported by the familiar blast max cushion. Then when you push off through the toes, the turbo squared foam adds that energized, springy feeling. Although it is not marketed as a stability shoe. The foam on the bottom tends to be wider than the upper. This created a large landing surface that kept my foot neutral and stable throughout my run.
Jacob: The cushion is one of the biggest stories with this new update. Asics took the FF Turbo Squared foam they use in some of their faster shoes (Megablast, Sonciblast, ect) and put a unit in the forefoot, while the rest of the shoe is still their classic FFBlast Max. I find that the FF Turbo Squared adds that extra pop that suits this shoe perfectly. FF Blast Max focuses more on cushioning, which lends itself well towards longer, softer distances. Both foams create a Shaq and Kobe pairing that work amazing together! Even for a softer foam, the shoe is surprisingly stable. Not the most stable shoe in the world, but enough to get the job done.
THE NITTY GRITTY
Amanda: I would use this shoe as a versatile everyday trainer. It can handle the wear and tear of higher mileage, but also add spring to tempo runs. This is a shoe that can be great for mid distance athletes. It is a good all around shoe that can give lasting support into long runs as well as a small kick in mile repeats. I would say shoes that feel similar to this shoe are the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro along with the New Balance Fuelcell Rebels. All of these shoes allow for great training versatility with great support and a lighter weight.
Jacob: This is going to be used for two things for me; Uptempo training runs and long runs. This shoe has the lightweight feeling of a shoe I can push the pace in, while having the padding to survive for a 17 mile long run. This is going to be a very versitile option for many runners. I think people who are participating in cross country and track, or people looking for a do-it-all type of shoe will love this model!
As someone who has worn the Novablast since version 4, I am very impressed with this new update. The big talking point is the change in the foam to include the FFTurbo Squared piece in the ball of the foot, which is a major improvement! My personal favorite update, however, is the upper. One of my complaints with version 5 was that the upper felt thick and a little ill-fitting. This new model would put this shoe up against the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro, Saucony Azura, Hoka Mach 7, and New Balance Rebel v5. Think of shoes that are cushioned, yet responsive.
THE RUNDOWN
Amanda: I really enjoyed my experience in the Novablast 6's. It has now made its way to my own daily trainer. I feel very comfortable in my toes and supported in my midfoot. I can't stress how important it is for my shoes to be lightweight, along with optimal cushion. I mainly run longer distances and I need a shoe that can keep up with the miles and not break down. I also need a shoe that is not going to start to feel heavy on my foot later into the run. The novalast 6's is a perfect mix of cushion and spring to meet my needs.
Jacob: Safe to say I had a blast in the Asics Novablast 6! Not too shocking with my love for the previous 2 versions, but this has a different spark to it. Almost every upgrade is a direct improvement to version 5. From the new foam treatment, to the updated upper, this shoe will be a staple in many rotations.
Meet the Reviewers
